What To Pack For Thanksgiving

6 Packing Tips (And Essential Items) For Thanksgiving

There are places to go and pies to eat! And if you’re traveling home for the long Thanksgiving weekend you’ll need a packing game plan. Prepare for all the festivities by strategizing your style. Optimize your most versatile items of clothing and take as little as possible. Plan for the places you’ll be. Travel with pieces that you can dress up or down and have one coat or jacket that will work with everything.

Bring Only Two Pairs Of Shoes

Clark's

Limit yourself to only two pairs of shoes, one of them being sneakers and the other boots. We like Clark’s classic Desert boots because they work well with both chinos and denim. And most importantly, pack roomy sweats for that after-dinner tryptophan-induced coma.

Travel Light

Herschel Supply Co.

Get in and out of the airport as quickly and cheaply as possible. This is one of the biggest travel weekends of the year and the airport will be jumping. You can bet your airline will be checking if your carryon luggage meets the size regulation. Avoid the checked baggage fees and invest in Herschel Supply Co.’s Campaign roller board. It fits in the overhead and has two easy-access mesh pockets for your travel documents.

Fly Right

Jack Black

Think TSA-approved grooming products as well. A long weekend is a great time to try new products in a travel-size kit. You don’t have to use dad’s generic shaving cream or mom’s strawberry shampoo just because you’re home. Keep up the good habit of taking care of your skin with this travel set from Jack Black. Stay handsome while on the move with this sampler of Jack Black’s best sellers — Beard Lube, Double-Duty Face Moisturizer SPF 20, Eye Balm Age Minimizing Gel, Intense Therapy Lip Balm and All-Over Wash.

Go Out

If you’re lucky enough to make it home in time for the biggest bar night of the year, you’ll want to look your best. Everyone shows up at the local watering hole on the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving. It’s practically a mini high school reunion. So, even if your local hang is a dive, it’s worth making the effort. You can’t go wrong with a great pair of jeans. Just make sure your go-to option can work in a few other situations as well. Partner a dark denim pair with your favorite t-shirt for a night at the bar and wear them again with a cardigan sweater at Sunday brunch. Remember, we are traveling light! And if you need a new pair, check out Hudson Jeans, a proud Movember sponsor. They’ll be so thankful they’ll donate $25 when you purchase a pair of their Movember jeans.

Pre-Game

Under Armour

Earn those second helpings even before sitting down at the Thanksgiving Day table. Burn some calories and run a 5K Turkey Trot or play a game of touch football with the old team. You don’t need bulky layers to keep your muscles warm. Under Armour’s Cold Gear holds on to just the right amount of your body heat while wicking away moisture, keeping you warm and dry. It’s the perfect base layer for colder days and it won’t take up a ton of space in your suitcase.

Eat Up

Ivy Prepster

When it's finally time to sit down for dinner, respect the amount of time and planning that goes into serving a proper bird and dress up for your hosts. Start with a plaid, corduroy or Oxford button down shirt; Gitman Vintage makes some of the sharpest. Add a shawl collar cardigan from OHanlon Mills and knit tie from Ivy Prepster and you’re set. Layering is critical. When the political dinner conversation gets heated — and it always does — remove your sweater and tie.

Kick Back

Nike

Dinner is done and it’s time to spend the rest of the weekend horizontal on the couch watching football. This is no time for skinny jeans. Embrace the “Athleisure” trend with these classic sweatpants from J. Crew. Get comfortable and by all means unpack the lucky jersey. Win Thanksgiving by going to the NFL Shop for official licensed gear like this Nike Elite Jersey. It will set you back, but hey, it’s a family tradition.